Health Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy in Dental Surgery

The Doctor of Philosophy in Dental Surgery is a doctoral programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Department of Dental Sciences, School of Dental Sciences. It is designed to produce specialists who can provide leadership in dental diseases management, with particular focus on periodontal care and dental implantology.

Students engage with advanced topics including the scientific basis of periodontal care, the relationship of periodontal care to other dental disciplines, diagnosis and treatment planning for patients with advanced periodontal problems, clinical treatment and management, and research methodology. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops evidence-based approaches to Kenya's oral health challenges.

Kenya faces significant oral health burdens, with the 2015 Kenya National Oral Health Survey reporting gingivitis prevalence of 75.7% in children and 98.1% in adults. Chronic periodontitis affects 1-10% of the population. These statistics underscore the need for doctoral-level dental research and specialised clinical leadership in Kenya.

Teaching is delivered through coursework, clinical work, practicals, research projects, tutorials, seminars and journal discussions. The programme runs over three parts spanning three to six years of full-time training, with all courses being compulsory. Students progress through coursework, clinical practice and thesis research simultaneously.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, dental researchers, periodontal specialists, oral health policy advisors and clinical consultants. They work in universities, dental schools, hospitals, research institutions and government health agencies.

The programme is ideal for dental professionals who hold a Master of Dental Surgery or Master of Medicine degree and wish to advance to the highest level of academic and clinical specialisation in dental surgery.

Duration: 3-6 years
Public, up to: Ksh 642,600
Private, up to: Ksh 310,200
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 5 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Scientific Basis of Periodontal Care
Advanced Dental Implantology
Periodontal Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
Clinical Periodontal Treatment
Research Methods in Dental Sciences
Advanced Oral Biology
Dental Biostatistics
Evidence-Based Dental Practice
Advanced Clinical Dentistry
Thesis Research

Modules

10 in the programme

Scientific Basis of Periodontal Care
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of periodontal tissues, disease mechanisms and evidence-based treatment modalities
Advanced Dental Implantology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Surgical placement of dental implants, implant site development and osseointegration principles
Periodontal Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Comprehensive diagnostic techniques and treatment planning for complex periodontal cases
Clinical Periodontal Treatment
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Hands-on clinical treatment of patients with advanced periodontal problems, covering clinical principles, evidence-based practice, and contemporary challenges in healthcare delivery and research.
Research Methods in Dental Sciences
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Quantitative and qualitative research methodologies applied to dental research, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to.
Advanced Oral Biology
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Molecular and cellular biology of oral tissues in health and disease, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Dental Biostatistics
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Statistical methods for designing and analysing dental research studies, including probability theory, hypothesis testing, regression analysis, and statistical software applications for doctoral.
Evidence-Based Dental Practice
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Critical appraisal of dental literature and application of evidence to clinical decision-making
Thesis Research
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Original research project resulting in a doctoral thesis on a specialised topic in dental surgery
Journal Club and Seminars
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Critical discussion of current research literature and presentation of research findings

Specialisations

Oral Health Research
Epidemiological and clinical research in oral health
Dental Implantology
Surgical placement and restoration of dental implants
Periodontology
Specialised study of periodontal diseases and their management
Dental Education
Teaching and curriculum development in dental sciences

A day as a student

A typical day involves morning clinical sessions at the School of Dental Sciences treating patients with advanced periodontal conditions, followed by afternoon seminars and journal club discussions. Students spend significant time in the laboratory conducting research for their thesis, attending tutorials on advanced periodontal techniques, and participating in case presentations with faculty supervisors.

The trade offs

In its favour

Highly specialised qualification with limited competition in Kenya
Combines clinical practice with academic research opportunities
Strong demand for dental education and research in Kenya

Against it

Requires prior master's qualification in dentistry or medicine
Long duration of 3-6 years of full-time study
Limited to University of Nairobi as the primary offering institution

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 349 health sciences courses

Public428k to 643k

428k at University of Nairobi643k at Kenyatta University

Private144k to 310k

144k at Kenya Methodist University310k at Kabarak University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

UoN 428K/yr verified (dental.uonbi.ac.ke). KU unverified. KeMU 144K, Kabarak 310K/yr.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for eligible Kenyan students. University of Nairobi offers limited internal scholarships for doctoral students. NACOSTI research grants may support thesis research costs.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
NACOSTI Research Grant
University of Nairobi Scholarships

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 60,000
Kenyan citizens enrolled in postgraduate programmes at recognised universities
NACOSTI Research Grant
Grant
Researchers conducting science and technology research in Kenya
UoN Doctoral Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Doctoral students at UoN with outstanding academic records

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: Master's degree
Alternative entry: Certificate of proficiency in English language; Pass an entry examination; Recognition by University of Nairobi Senate for equivalent qualifications

How you are assessed

3 components

Thesis Defence
Thesis40% of the mark
Oral defence of original research thesis before an examination panel
Coursework Examinations
Written exam30% of the mark
End-of-year written examinations covering all coursework modules
Clinical Practicals
Practical30% of the mark
Assessment of clinical skills and patient management competencies

Accreditation

This programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and relevant professional bodies.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body for university programme accreditation in Kenya
Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council
ProfessionalRequired
Regulatory body for medical and dental practice in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Dental Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 200,000
Conducting research in dental sciences at research institutions
University Lecturer in Dentistry
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 250,000
Teaching and research position in a university dental school
Oral Health Policy Advisor
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 300,000
Advising government and organisations on oral health policy
Periodontal Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Specialised clinical practice in periodontology and dental implants

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers in academia, research, and specialised practice with strong demand in Kenya.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

PhD in Dental Surgery is the same as Bachelor of Dental Surgery
The PhD is an advanced research and clinical specialisation degree requiring a prior master's qualification, while BDS is the undergraduate dental degree.
The programme only focuses on clinical practice
The programme combines clinical work, original research, coursework and thesis writing, producing both clinical specialists and academic researchers.
Dental research has limited career opportunities in Kenya
Kenya's high prevalence of periodontal diseases and the growing demand for dental implants create significant need for doctoral-level dental expertise.
The programme can be completed in two years
The programme requires a minimum of three years and a maximum of six years of full-time training, including coursework, clinical work and thesis defence.
Only dentists with clinical experience can apply
Holders of Master of Medicine, Master of Dental Surgery, or Master of Science in Anatomy degrees are all eligible to apply, broadening access to related medical professionals.